Ahhh, mrwunrfl, how coiuldwe forget "cootie memory"?! LOL

elaine, airborne will be in our medicine chest from now on, having heard some really good success stories.
I take a pashmina and use my husband as a pillow lol.
But I have to look into the mask/rubber glove idea..

LOL Scarlett, I can just visualize you on the plane with your showercap, rubber gloves and mask #-o You will start a whole new fashion statement for flying!! Don't forget to wear your Fodors pin. Thanks for the morning laugh.

Little OCD here.

reminds me of Nicholson in "As Good As it Gets"

I bring my own inflatable pillow only because everything else is inconvenient. Am I still qualified to join Ahhnold's OCD club :)

Attach a spray nozzle to the bottle of Purell (get the mega size from Costco) and go to town....

try to stand up for the entire flight. don't touch a thing and hold your breath.

there is a fodor's pin???

To heck with standing, just bring your own seat.....

As George Carlin once said about using your airline seat as a floatation device:

"Great, floating around on the South Pacific on a pillow full of beer farts"

We are all entitled to our own fears and phobias - and they are often not relieved by logic. (I certainly have my share).

But unless one lives in a bubble there are as many bacteria and viruses in the supermarket, subway, office, - there is nothing special about a plane (except maybe the recycled air). Think of where those green beans you bought yesterday might have been - and do you actually think rinsing them off with water gets rid of anything but stray dust. Think about who else has touched the railing on the stairway you just used.

Unless one has some immune system problem, our bodies are amazingly good at dealing with the millions of pathogens we are exposed to. Clothing and skin provide a great barrier. While it may be creepy to think about, what about seats in the movies, in the doctor's waiting room, at the Registry of Motor Vehicles?

I prefer to worry about other things (like will the plane crash - but that is my phobia)

good points, gail
My MD pointed out the other day that one possible explanation for increases in severity of allergic reactions among children and teens to things like peanuts or pets is that they may be over-protected from allergens when they are infants and tots, so there is little chance of building up a tolerance.

"They" should invent a car seat type device for adults....

What would muffin do? Smooch.

I think muffin would wear the shower cap too if she couldn't find a space suit.

Why do'ya think Muffin got leather? Not for HIV huh :*

It must be terrible to live with OCD . .

Mipsy, the next time you go into a public restroom, steal as many of the toilet seat covers as possible. Then before your trip, tape about 2 dozen of them together and make a quilt. With some practice you will soon be able to shape your toilet seat cover quilt like an airplane seat. Once your quilt is finished, fold your quilt carefully and gently place it into your carryon bag. Once you are on the plane, pull out your home made seat cover quilt and place it onto your seat. It's a little embarassing the first time you do this. I still get funny looks when I pull out mine, but after reading OWJ's "Trip from Smell" report, I refuse to fly without my toilet seat cover quilt. [(

Another idea is to wear a suit of armor. We discussed this on another thread 8 months ago. Believe me, it's hell getting through the metal detectors with that suit of armor on. But once you're in, you are sheltered from everyone's cooties but your own.

Have a safe flight, don't let the chair bugs bite. :-)

I would recommend bringing a small travel pillow for the longer flight. They also sell small fleece throws for those drafty airplane rides.
I tend to wipe off the tray and the arm rests with a wet wipe. It makes me feel a little better.
Lice on airplanes..ewww....Bugs in the beds...eww...I wonder why we love to travel so much!!

Hey, no fair making fun of the &quot;toilet seat drape!&quot; I have been draping toilet seats for decades (since I was about 8; prior to that my mother draped them for me: &quot;you <i>never</i> sit on anyone else's seat, dear&quot;). It's now second nature---to the extent that if I didn't drape I'm not sure I could actually, well, enough of that.

Those quasi-fabric seat protectors on the headrest are NEVER changed or cleaned if they are made of the same fabric as the seats. If they are of the white, &quot;fabric-paper&quot; variety, they <i>may</i> be changed <i>yearly!</i> No kidding, this was told to me by a person who cleans planes. (I had to go back for a book after the cleaners had already started their work and asked about the headrest protectors.) Those things are a JOKE---they're not there for <i>your</i> protection, but the protection of the seat from your hair oil, Brylcreme, mousse, hairspray or whatever.

'They' also say that excessive heat kills germs.

Take a blow torch with you and flame throw the seat. The burnt charcoal smell may permeate the cabin and your clothes but at least you will not be sitting on germs.